Setoguchi's nets first career
hattie in winAvalanche overpowered by Sharks
forward

2/19/11 - By Mike Lee -

The Sharks concluded their brief two-game home
stand with a decisive 4-0 win over the struggling Colorado Avalanche at HP
Pavilion on Saturday night. The big offensive story was Devin Setoguchi, who
recorded his first career hat-trick. Setoguchi scored a pair of goals in the
1st period, then added a third goal late in the game to provide San Jose with
more than enough scoring. Antti Niemi made 25 saves to record his 5th shutout
of the season.

Colorado was looking to snap out of the funk that has
netted them only a single point in the standings since the All-Star break.
Their 0-8-1 record over the prior nine game has deflated the young team, but
more importantly has taken them out of the playoff picture. Injuries
havent helped their cause. They would start the game with plenty of
energy, but San Jose would simply strong arm them later in the period.

Devin Setoguchi would give the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 6:19 of the opening period,
with a backhand shot after splitting two Avalanche defenders. Setoguchi would
take a long lead pass from Jason Demers at the Colorado blueline and race past
42 and 6 as he raced up the slot before lifting a shot past Avalanche
goaltender Peter Budaj.

Ryan OByrne was sent off for holding
after hauling Kyle Wellwood to the ice at 13:40 of the period. The Sharks would
convert on the ensuing man-advantage when Setoguchi bagged his second of the
period. Newly acquired defenseman Ian White bounced a shot off the end boards
from the left side that bounced off the end boards right to Setoguchi, who
deposited it into a wide open net from 12 feet out.

The assist that
White earned on the goal was his first point as a Shark, and the 100h assist of
his career.

Colorado had a brand new defenseman in their lineup as
well, with Erik Johnson making his Avalanche debut after being acquired via a
trade late Friday night.

He traveled last night after a
game, said Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco.  He flew in from St.
Louis this morning. I thought he was really good and showed a lot of poise with
the puck. I know our power play didnt score any goals, but I think it
looked a lot better and he was a main reason for that. Hes going to be a
really good addition for our team.

Budaj would put the Sharks
right back on the power play after he tossed a puck over the glass for a delay
of game penalty. Ryane Clowe would make it 3-0 San Jose on another power play
goal. Logan Couture setup the tally by making a pass to Close from the right
point. Clowe tried to return the puck as Couture headed for the net, but the
puck was deflected back to Clowe by OByrne who was covering Couture in
the slot. The Sharks forward would snap a shot just inside the left post for
his 16th goal of the season.

Niemi didnt see many shots through
the first 23 minutes of the game, but Colorado turned up the heat after Kent
Huskins was sent off for holding at 2:25 of the 2nd period. Colorado would send
several pucks to Niemi, who made several key stops.

He would rob Ryan
Stoa midway through the period, by sticking out his left leg pad to stuff the
Avalanche forward, who was cutting through the crease.

Colorado would
outshoot San Jose 11-4 in the period, and clearly had taken control of the
games momentum, but Niemi kept everything out of the net.

The
Sharks would tighten up the defense in the 3rd period, keeping things simple
and more controlled with better puck movement out of their own end.

The blueline would get a scare, when defenseman Jason Demers was cross checked
into the end boards. It took Demers a second to get up off the ice after eating
wall.

Clowe just missed on a great chance in front of the
Colorado net 13 minutes into the period, when his shot was deflected high by
Budaj. Clowe took a pass from the right corner before snapping a shot from 8
feet out.

Avalanche centerman Paul Stastney would just miss on a shot
that clanked off the crossbar moments after Clowes miss.

Setoguchi would wrap up the hat-trick with 1:22 to play after picking the
pocket of Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson near the Sharks blueline. The Sharks
forward would grab the puck along the right wing boards and raced up ice before
snapping a shot past Budaj.

When asked how he felt about his big
offensive performance after the game, Setoguchi quipped that the fans were
more excited about getting pizza, in reference to the Sharks
promotion with a local pizza chain to reward fans with free pies whenever the
Sharks score four or more goals in a game.

In the second period,
I thought we were a little ragged but at the end of the night, its nice
to see Niemi get the shutout and Setoguchi get rewarded for another good night
on the score board, said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan.

Game Notes:

Forward Scott Nichol was injured midway through the
1st period when he missed a check along the boards, slamming into the glass. He
appeared to be favoring his left arm, which he was forced to use to cushion
himself as he slammed into the glass.

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